Refrigerating apparatus



0d L 1940- J. w. JACOBS `REFRIG-ERATING APPARATUS Filed April 21', 19394 Sheets-Sheet l TTM' l 3Q,... haz

S B o C A J w 1 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 21,1939 4sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. JMfs hf, 'J4-caes. BY

0d l. 194@ J. w. JAcoBs REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 2l, 1939 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. l, l. J. w. JACOBS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FiledApril 21, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y INVENTOR; f1/vis W. rfcaas.

Patented Oct. 1, `1940 UNITED STATES 2,216,592 REFRIGERATING APPARATUSJames W.

General Motors Corporation,

Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Application April 21,

14 Claims.

t construction and divides the interior of the tray into a plurality ofice block compartments. The grid is removable from the tray and hascertain of its walls movable relative to other walls thereof forbreaking the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls torelease the ice blocks from the grid structure. While these devices havebeen commercially successful, they have not been entirely satisfactoryfor the reason that they have been limited to a grid structure whereinall the ice block compartments are disposed in the same horizontal planewith one an-V other. Such limitation in the construction of priorfreezing devices reduces the number of ice blocks obtainable from asingle tray, thus necessitating the provisionof a greaty number of traysin a household refrigerator cabinet, and consequently the cost of therefrigerator has been high. I, therefore, contemplatev the provision ofan ice tray grid for such freezing devices which is of a unitarysubstantially rigid metal wall construction with the walls thereofcooperating with one another tp divide the interior of a tray into asuperimposed row or superimposed rows of ice block compartments andwherein certain Walls of the grid are movable relative to other wallsthereof to `break the bond between the grid walls and ice blocks bondedthereto for releasingv ice blocks from the grid structure. t

An object of my invention is to provide an improved rigid movable gridwall structure adapted to be'disposed in anicetray for dividing theinterior of the tray into superimposed rows of ice block compartmentsand a novel method of removing the grid from the tray and ice blocksfrom the grid structure without applying heat thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ice tray with aremovable single thickness rigid metal walled unitary grid structurewhich has a plurality of intersecting upright walls and an intersectingwall or walls disposed intermediate the top and bottom of the uprightwalls and interlocked therewith dividing the tray into superimposed rowsof ice blockv compartments and wherein certain walls of the gridstructure are movable relative to certain other walls thereof forreleasing ice blocks therefrom.

A further object f my invention is to provide 1939, Serial No. 269,147

an ice tray grid structure having a plurality of intersecting uprightwalls and a wall disposed intermediate the top and bottom of the uprightWalls to form superimposed rows of ice block compartments and whereincertain of the inter- 5 secting upright walls are' inclined or arenormallyfdisposed at an acute angle relative to other walls of the gridstructure to provide the superimposed ice block compartments with aparallelogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough and inwhich structure the inclined walls are movable out of their normalposition of inclination to enlarge the `ice block compartments andliberate ice blocks from walls thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a removableunitaryxgrid structure with a two-part longitudinal upright wall,y ahorizontally disposed wall located between the two parts of the two-partlongitudinal upright wall and a plurality of upright walls extendingtransversely of said two-part longitudinal wall wherein movement of onepart lrelative to the other part of said two-part longitudinallwallcauses movement of the transverse walls to break ice blocks loosefrom walls of 'superimposedice block com- 25 partments. y

A more specific object o'fmy invention is to provide a single thicknessrigid metal wall ygrid structure of the type described in the precedingobjects wherein the construction is such that the ice block Icompartmentforming walls are progressively moved to release iceblocks therefromsequentially along the length of the structure to thereby reduce to aminimum the force required to move the grid walls in the ice blockreleasing operation. f

Further objects and advantagesof the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of 4 0 the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a top' plan view of a freezing device showing an ice trayhaving aunitary grid structure constructed according to my inventiondisposed therein;

Fig. 2 is a side `view of the freezing device with the tray thereofshown in section and is taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 50 of Fig. 2 showingcertain interlocking connections of walls of the grid; V

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing otherinterlocking connections of walls of the grid;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the grid of the devicetogether with ice blocks bonded thereto elevated relative to the tray;

Fig. 6 is a view disclosing the unitary grid structure and ice blocksbonded thereto removed from the tray and showing certain walls of thegrid moved relative to other walls thereof for breaking ice blocks loosetherefrom;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the gridwalls after they have been moved to break all ice blocks loosetherefrom:

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a step in the method ofassembling walls together to form the unitary grid structure of thepresent invention;

Fig. 9 is a side plan view of another step in the methodof assemblingthe grid walls together;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an end portion of the grid structurewith parts thereof in a position during assembly; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an end portion of the grid structureshowing walls ofthe grid in their assembled position.

Referring to the-drawings for illustrating my invention, I havedisclosed a freezing device adapted to be placed in or on a supportassociated with the cooling element or evaporator of a refrigeratingsystem. The freezing device includes a metal tray I5 having side wallsI6,` a bottom wall I1 and opposed end walls I8 and I9. The tray sidewalls I6 and the front end wall VI8 thereof are diverged outwardlytoward the top of the tray. The back wall I9 of tray I5 is divergedoutwardly toward the top of the tray a greater distance than other wallsthereof for facilitating removal of a unitary grid structure 20,disposed in tray I5, from the tray as will be more fully describedhereinafter. The walls I6, I8 and I9 of tray I5 have their upper edgerolled over'to form a rim 2l which extends continuously around the topof the tray. A portion of the metal tray I5 is extended downwardly fromrim 2|, as at 22, at the front end thereof and provides a mounting for ametal piece 23 which has a handle 24 pivotally secured thereto. Thehandle 24 facilitates placing of the freezing device on its support inthe evaporator of the refrigerating system and a cam surface 26 formedthereon functions, upon actuating handle 24 to break an ice bond betweenthe tray and its support to permit removal of the freezing device andits frozen content from the evaporator as is vwell known in the art.

The unitary grid structure, generally represented by the referencecharacter 29, is removably disposed within tray l5 and divides theinterior thereof into upper longitudinal rows of ice block compartments3| and 32 and also lower longitudinal rows of ice block compartments 33and 34 (see Fig. 4). The grid structure 26 includes an uprightvertically disposed longitudinal wall 36 comprising two parts or members31 and 38. The part or member 31 of longitudinal wall 36 is disposedabove and in substantially the same ver- .tical plane with the otherpart 38 thereof to form complementary portions of Wall 36 which wall iscommon to the rows of ice block compartments. The grid 29 also includesa plurality of upright walls 39 which extend laterally from ortransversely to the two-part longitudinal wall 36. The upright walls 36and 39 of grid 28 cooperate to divide the interior of tray I5 into or toprovide rows of cells.on each side of wall 36. A means or plate 4Iextending substantially horizontally across the cells, formed by walls36 and 39, and

thereof are movable relative to one another as will be hereinafter morefully described.

The upper part 31 of longitudinal grid wall 36 is provided with aplurality of spaced apart slots or notches 43 extending downwardly ashort distance from its topedge. These slots or notches 43 include abottom wall 44 and have side walls 45 and 46 that are cut at oppositeangles to one another. Lower part or member 38 of longitudinal grid wall36 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart slots or notches 41extending upwardly from its bottom edge. The slots or notches 41 includeside walls 48 and 49 cut at opposite angles to one another and a tophorizontal wall 5I. A web portion 52 at the top of an elongated aperture53 provided in the upright transverse walls 39 (see Fig. 4) ts into theslots or notches 43 provided in the upper part 31 of longitudinal wall36. A web portion 54 of walls 39 at the bottom of the elongated aperture53 ts into the slots or notches 41 of the lower part 38 of wall 36. Theparts 31 and 38 of longitudinal wall 36 extend through the aperture 53in the transverse walls 39 to thus interlock these walls 36 and 39together in movable relation to one another to provide the cells thatare partitioned into the ice block compartments 3|, 32, 33 and 34. Itwill be noted by referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings that the uprighttransverse grid walls 39 are each provided with horizontally alignedslots 56 extending inwardly from the side edges thereof intermediatetheir top and bottom edges. The partitioning means or plate 4I of grid26 is interlocked with the transverse walls 39 in the slots 56. Theplate 4I extends between the parts 31 and 38 of longitudinal grid wall36 horizontally through the cells to form the superimposed rows of iceblock compartments 3|, 32, 33 and 34 and is provided with a plurality ofspaced apart elongated apertures 51 bounded at their ends by webportions 58 and 59 fitting within the slots 56 of transverse walls 39. Aweb part of walls 39 between the slots 56 provided therein ts in theapertures 51 formed in plate 4l. The partitioning means or plate 4I isalso provided with a slot 6I at its one end (see Fig. 3) to receive anupwardly directed part 62 formed on the lower member 38 of the two-partlongitudinal grid wall 36. A portion of the end of lower part 38 oflongitudinal wall 36 below the upwardly extending part 62 thereof isbent, as at 64 (see Figs. 2 and 3), out of the vertical plane of theupper part 31 of wall 36. Thus, part 62 of the lower part 38 of two-partlongitudinal wall 36 lies adjacent and parallel with an end portion ofthe upper part 31 of wall 36. A lever 65, having a handle end 66 and acam end 61, is provided intermediate its ends with a pair of legs 68.The lever 65 is pivotally mounted upon the grid 20 by a pin or stud 1Iwhich passes through an opening in one of its legs 68 and which stud issecured, as at 12, to the upwardly extending portion 62 of the lowerpart 38 of the two-part longitudinal wall 36. The other leg of lever 65has a pin or stud 13 secured thereto and which stud 13 has a partthereof fitting within an elongated opening 14 provided in the upperpart 31 of the two-part longitudinal wall 36 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Byreferring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the slots ornotches 43 and 41 are arranged to normally hold 5 the portions 52 and 54of the transverse walls 39 against the wal-1 portions 46 and 49respectively of the notches. This abutment of transverse walls 39 withwall parts 31 and 38 of the two-part longitudinal grid wall 36 normallymaintains the walls 39 in parallel relation with one another and in apredetermined inclined position or a position disposed at an acute anglerelative to the bottom of tray I5 or relative to the verticaldisposition of longitudinal grid wall 36. This l5 normal inclined oracute angled position of the upright transverse grid walls 39 providesrows of ice block compartments 3|, 32, 33 and V34, located above andbelow the plate or means 4I and at the sides of longitudinal wall 36,with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross sectiontherethrough. This normal angled disposition of walls 39 facilitatesbreaking of the bond between ice blocks and walls of the grid andmovement of the ice blocks as will be hereinafter more fully explained.It is to be noted that the slots 43 in the upper part 31 of the two-partlongitudinal grid wall 36 are of such configuration and of progressivelyincreased width relative to one another from the lever end of the gridstructure to the opposite end thereof as to cause the upper longitudinalwall part 31, upon being moved lengthwise of the lower longitudinal wallpart 38, to progressively engage the transverse walls 39 and move thesewalls one after the other from one end to the other end of the gridstructure 20 to thereby sequentially move the walls 39.

Having described the construction of the unitary grid structure 20, Iwill now proceed to describe the method of assembling the partitions or40 wall members thereof together in movable interlocking connectedtogether relation with one another. Itcwill be noted by referring toFig. 8 of the drawings that the lower part 38 of the twopart uprightlongitudinal wall 36 has been passed through the elongated aperture 53in the desired number of transverse walls 39 and lowered relativethereto so that the slots 41 fit over the web portion 54 of the Walls39. Prior to assembling the upper part 31 of the longitudinal wall 36into interlocking engagement with other grid walls, the lever endportion of part 31 is bent outwardly, as at 8| away from the plane ofextension thereof (see Fig. 10) for a purpose to presently becomeapparent. Upper or complementary part 31 55 of the two-part longitudinalwall 36 is then inserted into the elongated aperture 53 of the pluralityof transverse walls 39 above and in the same vertical plane with thelower wall part 38 as shown in full lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

This insertion of wall part 31 into the apertures 53 of cross walls 39is permitted by the end portion 62 of wall part 38 being bent as at 64out of the longitudinal path thereof. After wall part 31 has been movedinto position within the as- 65 sembly so that its plurality of-spacedapart slots 43 come into vertical alignment with their cooperating slots41, provided in wall part 38, it is elevated into the position shown indot-dash lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings. This elevation of wall part 31is permitted by the web portion 52 on the plurality of transverse walls39 being received in the slots 43. By referring to the dot-dash linesshowing in Fig. 8, it will be noted that the raising of wall part 31relative to the wall part 38 as described provides a space between thebottom edge of wall part 31 and the top edge of wall part 38 in whichspace the plate means 4I is adapted to'be positioned. Before describingthe method of assembling the plate 4| to the grid structure it isdesired to point out that the web 5 portions 59 adjacent the one end ofthe plurality of openings 51 in the plate 4| are slit as at 82 (see Fig.3) and these web portions 59, by virtueA of the slit 82, are normallybent upwardly as shown at 83 -in Fig. 9 of the drawings. It is also 10to be noted by reference to Fig. 9 that plate 4I has its end portion onone side of the slot 6I therein normally bent upwardly as at' 84. Thebent portions 83 and 84 of plate 4| are for the purpose of permittingassembly of the plate to 15 the other grid walls in the space providedbetween` the wall parts 31 and 38 of the longitudinal grid wall 36.Plate 4l is raised into position at the side of the grid assembly and ismoved horizontally toward same through the space between the 20 wallparts 31 and 38 of the'longitudinal wall 36. This movement of plate 4Iis permitted by the space between the slit 82 and the bent-up web part83 permitting the plate 4| to clear and pass over the cross walls 31 andby the bent-up end 25 part 84 clearing the outwardly bent end 8| of`wall part 38 and also clearing and passing beyond -Vthe upstanding endpart 62` on the lower wall 38 of the two-part longitudinal wall 36. Theposition of plate 4| after being moved into assembled 30 relation withrespect to other of the grid walls is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of thedrawings. In order to lock the walls together the upwardly bent part 83of `webs 59 and the upwardly bent end part 84 on plate 4| are then bentdown (see 35 Fig. 10) to prevent horizontal movement or disassembly ofthe plate from other of the grid walls.

Thereafter, the outwardly bent end portion 8| of the top longitudinalwall part 31 is bent from its position shown in Fig. 10 to the positionthereof 40 shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings to thus movaly interlock thevarious grid walls together. In order to provide means for movingcertain of the grid walls relative to certain others thereof and meansfor holding the walls in a predetermined 45 ice' block compartmentforming position, the lever 65 is now secured by the studs 1| and 13 instraddling relation to the wall parts 31 and 38 of the ltwo--partlongitudinal grid wall 36. Thus,

a substantially non-flexible movable walled uni- 50 tary grid structure,which can be bodily removed from a freezing tray and which forms aplurality of superimposed rows of ice block molds or compartments, isprovided.

Assume that water has been frozen in the 55 freezing device in the formof blocks 85 in the compartments 3|, 32, 33 and 34, by the cooling electproduced by an evaporator of a refrigerating system, and the tray handle24 has been manipulated to remove the device from its sup- 60 port onthe evaporator and it is now desirable to liberate the ice blocks fromthe tray I5 and from the unitary grid structure 28. The handle end 66 oflever 65 on the grid is therefore elevated to move the lever about itspivotal mounting pin65. or stud 1| and to cause the cam end 61 thereofto engage the rim 2| of tray I5 and exert a force against the tray. Thisinitial movement of lever 65 and the force caused to be applied therebyto tray I5 elevates the unitary grid structure 20, 70 together with theice blocks 85 adhering thereto. relative to the tray (see Fig. 5). Theelongated opening 14 in wall part 31 of longitudinal wall 36 permits pinor stud 13 to rise therein, during rotation of pin 13 about the axis ofpin 1|, with. 75

out engaging and moving the wall part 3l of longitudinal wall 36 duringthis initial movement of lever S5 to elevate the grid 20 and ice blocksrelative to the tray as explained. After the bond between the ice blocks85 and tray I5 has been broken by elevation of the grid 20 relative tothe tray the grid may be removed from the tray or raised above same.Thereafter, further movement of lever 65 in its single direction ofmotion about its pivotal mounting pin 'Il causes the pin 73 to engageand exert a force to the wall of opening 'm to move the upper part 31 ofthe vertical two-part longitudinal grid wall 36 lengthwise 0f the lowerpart 38 thereof. The initial movement of wall part or member 3llengthwise of wall part or member 38 and toward the lever end of thegrid structure 2li causes the side wall 45 of slot 43, nearest the leverend of the structure, to engage the web portion 52 of the end transversewall 39 to move or tilt this end transverse Wall. 'I'his tilting of theend transverse wall 39 causes same to pivot about the bottom edges ofwalls 48 and 59 oi slot 41 and moves the end transverse Wall 39 out ofits normal inclined or predetermined angled position (see Fig. 6) tobreak the bond between the end ice blocks 85 and walls of the grid 28.The ice blocks 85 in the two lower compartments 33 and 34 will bereleased from the grid and will freely fall therefrom while the iceblocks 85 in the two upper or superimposed compartments 3| and 32 willbe loosened and can be liberated from the grid by turning the gridstructure sideways. The increased width of the slots 43 and theirdifferent contour relative to one another from the lever end to theopposite end of the grid structure prevents movement of other of thetransverse walls 39 during movement of the rst or end transverse wall.However, continued rotation of lever 55 about its pivotal mounting 1|,to move upper member or wall part 31 of the two-part longitudinal wall36 lengthwise of the lower member or wall part 38 thereof, causesprogressive engagement of walls 45 of the other slots 43 with theremaining transverse walls 39 to sequentially move these remaining walls39 in succession from the lever end tc the opposite end of the gridstructure 2U as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings to break the bondbetween all the ice blocks in the superimposed rows thereof and walls ofthe grid. In Fig. '7 of the drawings, all ice blocks are shown brokenloose from their compartment walls and while the lower ice blocks of thesuperimposed rows thereof freely fall from the grid structure 20 theupper or superimposed ice blocks will slide horizontally out of theircompartments upon tilting or turning the structure 20 sideways.

It will be noted that the slots 58 in transverse walls 39 of the grid 20are slightly wider than the thickness of plate 4| and thereby permit thetilting of the transverse walls relative to plate 4l without bindingagainst the web portions 58 and 59 thereof. It is also to be noted thatthe elongated openings 5l in plate M intermediate the webs 58 and 59thereof are of such width to permit the tilting movement of thetransverse walls 39 therein. By virtue`of positioning the transversegrid walls 39 in a. normal inclined relation and substantially parallelto one another, the distance between adjacent transverse walls 39 willbe increased upon movement of these walls out of their normal angled orinclined position. The size of the parallelogram-shaped compartments 3l,32, 33 and 34 is thereby momentarily and progressively increased beyondthe size of the ice blocks 85 and when the ice blocks are tilted bymovement of the transverse walls 39 these ice blocks will be brokenloose from all the grid walls and can be readily removed from theircompartments. It will also be noted by referring to Fig. '7 of thedrawings that after the various parts of the grid structure have beeninterlockingly assembled or connected together movement of certain partsthereof relative to certain other parts to eiect the ice bond breakingfunction does not alter the unitary character of the removable gridstructure. Walls of the grid structure 20 may, if desired, be treated orcoated with a waxy substance to minimize adherence of water and icethereto and to facilitate the breaking of ice bonds.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improvedfreezing device and particularly an improved removable unitary gridstructure for disposition in an ice tray which structure is of low cost,strong and durable, capable of being operated with a minimum of forceand eiiective to remove ice blocks therefrom. My improved grid structureby forming or providing superimposed rows of ice blocks and by havingprogressive movement of the ice block compartment walls incorporatedtherein prevents undue shattering of the ice blocks of the superimposedrows thereof. By providing a unitary removable grid structure thatdivides the interior of a tray into a plurality of rows of superimposedice block compartments, I reduce the number of trays to be provided in ahousehold refrigerating apparatus, and the tray compartments within anevaporator of a refrigerating system are permitted to be of greaterheight which is more suitable for the reception and storage of largefrozen food products. In the grid structure disclosed, all or less thanall of the ice blocks can be removed from( the gri and ice blocks notremoved therefrom can b replaced along with the grid in the tray and-the tray repositioned in the evaporator to preserve the remaining iceblocks until such time as their removal or harvesting is desired.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a longitudinalwall and a plurality of transverse walls extending continuously throughthe plane of said longitudinal wall and disposed in spaced apartrelation along the length thereof to form a row of cells on each side ofsaid longitudinal Wall, substantially horizontally extending meansdisposed intermediate the top and bottom of said walls and forming wallsdividing the rows of cells into superimposed rows of ice blockcompartments, said walls being interlockingly connected together toprovide a unitary removable grid structure, certain of the walls of saidunitary grid structure being movable relative to certain other wallsthereof, and means for moving said vmovable grid walls to break the icebond between walls of said compartments and ice blocks therein.

2. A structure in accordance with claim l wherein the connection of thewalls is `constructed and arranged in such manner that the means formoving the movable grid walls is caused to act progressively thereon tovbreak ice bonds sequentially from one portion to another portion of thegrid.

3. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising a longitudinalwall and a plurality of walls extending laterally therefrom in spacedapart relation along the length thereof to form a longitudinal row ofcells, substantially horizontally extending means disposed intermediatethe top and bottom of said walls and forming Walls dividing the row ofcells into superimposed rows of ice block compartments, said walls beinginterlockingly connected together to provide a unitary removable gridstructure, said plurality of laterally extending walls being normallyinclined with respect to the vertical to provide said superimposed rowsof ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in one direction ofcross section therethrough, said plurality of laterally extending wallsof said unitary grid structure being movable relative to other wallsthereof, and means for moving said laterally extending walls toward thevertical to' enlarge said ice block compartments and break the ice bondbetween walls thereof and ice blocks therein. v

4. A structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the connection of thewalls is constructed and arranged in such manner that the means formoving the laterally extending grid walls is caused to act progressivelythereon to enlarge the ice block compartments and break ice bondssequentially from one portion to another portion of the grid.

5. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a verticallydisposed longtudnal wall and a pluralty of transverse walls extendingcontinuously through the plane of said longitudinal wall and disposed inspaced apart relation along the length thereof to form a row of cells oneach side of said longitudinal wall, substantially horizontallyextending means disposed intermediate the top and bottom of saidlongitudinal and said transverse walls and forming walls dividing therows of cells into superimposed rows of ice block compartments, saidwalls being interlockingly connected together to provide a unitaryremovable grid structure, said plurality of transverse walls beingnormally inclined with respect to the vertical to provide saidsuperimposed rows of ice block compartments with a parallelogram form inone direction of cross section therethrough, said plurality oftransverse walls of said unitary grid structure being movable relativeto other walls thereof, and means for moving said transverse wallstoward the vertical to enlarge said ice block compartments and break theice bond between walls thereof and ice blocks therein.

6. A structure in accordance with claim 5 wherein the connection of thewalls is constructed and arranged in such manner that the means formoving the transverse grid walls is caused to act progressively thereonto enlarge the ice block compartments and break ice bonds sequentiallyAfrom one portion to another portion of the grid.

'7. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a two-partlongitudinal wall havng its one part disposed above and in substantiallythe same plane with its other part and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation alongthe length thereof to form rows of cells, a horizontally extending platedisposed between the parts of said two-part longitudinal wall andintermediate the tops and bottoms of said transverse walls and formingwalls dividing the rows of cells into superimposed rows of ice blockcompartments, said walls being interlockingly connected together toprovide a unitary removable grid structure, certain of the walls of saidunitary grid structure being movable relative to certain other wallsthereof, and means for moving said movable grid walls to break the icebond between walls of said compartments and ice blocks therein.

8. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a4 two-partlongitudinal wall having its one part disposed above and insubstantially the same plane with its other part and aplurality of wallsextending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apartrelation along the length thereof to form rows of cells, a horizontallyextending plate disposed between the parts of said two-part longitudinalwall and intermediate the tops and bottoms of said transverse walls andforming walls dividing the rows of cells into superimposed rows of iceblock comwherein the connection of the walls is constructi ed andarranged in such manner that force applied to said means actsprogressively on said transverse walls to break ice bonds sequentiallyfrom one portion to another portion of the grid.

10. A grid for disposition in a freezing ltray comprising, a two-partlongitudinal wall having its one part disposed above and insubstantially the same plane with its other part and a plurality ofwalls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apartrelation along the length thereof to form rows of cells, a horizontallyextending plate disposed between the parts of said two-part longitudinalwall and intermediate the tops and bottoms of said transverse walls andforming walls dividing the rows of cells into superimposed rows of iceblock compartments, said walls being interlockingly connected togetherto provide a unitary removable grid structure, said plurality oftransverse walls being normally inclined with respect to the vertical toprovide said superimposed rows of ice block compartments with aparallelogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough, saidplurality of transverse walls of said unitary grid structure beingmovable relative to other walls thereof, and means for moving saidtransverse walls toward the vertical to enlarge said ice blockcompartments and break the ice bond between walls thereof and ice blockstherein.

11. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a two-partlongitudinal wall having its one part disposed above and insubstantially the same plane with its other part and a plurality ofwalls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apartrelation along the length thereof to form rows of cells, a horizontallyextending plate disposed between the parts of said two-part longitudinalwall and intermediate the tops and bottoms of said transverse walls andforming walls dividing the rows of cells into superimposed rows of iceblock compartments, said Walls being interlockingly connected togetherto provide a unitary removable grid structure, said plurality oftransverse walls being normally inclined with respect to the vertical toprovide said superimposed rows of ice block compartments with aparalleogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough, saidplurality of transverse walls of said unitary grid structure beingmovable relative to other walls thereof, one part of said two-partlongitudinal grid wall being movable relative to the other part thereof,means for moving said one part of the two-part longitudinal wallrelative to said other part thereof, and the connection between saidgrid walls being constructed and arranged in such manner that movementof said one part of said two-part longitudinal grid wall by said meanscauses movement of said plurality of transverse walls toward thevertical to enlarge said ice block compartments and break the ice bondbetween Walls thereof and ice blocks therein.

12. A structure in accordance with claim 11 wherein the connectionbetween said grid walls is also constructed and arranged in such mannerthat force applied to the movable part of said two-part longitudinalWall acts progressively on said transverse walls to move same toward thevertical to enlarge said ice block compartments and break ice bondssequentially from one portion to another portion of the grid.

13. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a plurality ofwalls forming a row of cells and means extending across the cells ofsaid row thereof intermediate the top and bottom of said cell formingwalls and providing other Walls dividing the row of cells into a rowofsuperimposed ice block compartments, said walls being movably connectedtogether to provide a unitary removable grid structure, and means formoving certain of the Walls of said grid structure relative to othersthereof to break an ice bond between walls of the compartments and iceblocks therein.

14. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a plurality ofwalls forming a row of cells and means extending across the cells ofsaid row thereof intermediate the top and bottom of said cell formingwalls and providing other walls dividing the row of cells into a row ofsuperimposed ice block compartments, said walls being movably connectedtogether to provide a unitary removable grid structure, and means formoving certain of the walls of said grid structure relative lto othersthereof to break an ice bond between walls of less than the entirenumber of said compartments or all of the compartments and ice blockstherein.

JAMES W JACOBS.

